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Federal Foreign Minister Westerwelle: Stability in Lebanon important for the region
Efforts to secure long-term stability in Lebanon are all the more necessary in light of the repression in Syria and its negative effects on the region. The German Government has therefore transferred another 1.5 million euro to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon for 2012. In doing so it supports the work of the Special Tribunal to clarify the circumstances of the deadly attack on the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Federal Foreign Minister Westerwelle made the following statement today (16 December):
“The dramatic events in Syria should not cause us to lose sight of how fragile the situation in Lebanon remains. Lebanon’s stabilization is of great importance for efforts towards peace and reconciliation in the entire region.
That also includes comprehensive clarification of the assassination of Rafik Hariri. That is in the interest of both the international community and the people in Lebanon.
We will thus continue to support the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. I welcome the fact that also Lebanon transferred its contribution for this year to the Special Tribunal a few days ago.”
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon took up its work in The Hague on 1 March 2009. It is financed through voluntary contributions from UN member states (51%) and Lebanon (49%). Germany has been providing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon with both personnel and funding since its establishment in 2007. From 2008 to 2010, Germany contributed one million US dollars annually; in 2011 the amount was raised to 1.5 million euro.
After the issuance of the indictment in August, the Special Tribunal must now make a decision on opening the main trial against Rafik Hariri’s presumed murderers.